2007 CADILLAC BLS Wagon 2.0L Turbo 5AT (210 HP)

Vehicle Overview

GM tried to enter the European premium segment with the Cadillac brand and produced specific models for that market.

General Motors had a few brands in Europe, such as Opel, Saab, and Vauxhall. The Swedish carmaker was too small, and its brand was not in very good shape even after its entire lineup was refreshed. Cadillac was the next in line to increase the sales on the premium segment, and GM built the BLS range based on the Opel/Vauxhall Vectra C platform. It offered the vehicle as a sedan and as a station wagon.

The car’s angular look was different than any other European brand. Its vertical headlights and grid-like grille with the big Cadillac badge in the middle was different than the rounded-shapes design language adopted by Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. In the station wagon shape, the ascending line was emphasized by the longer chromed trim that followed the windows line. In the back, the corner-mounted, vertical taillights and the dual exhaust tried to impress its customers.

Inside, there was a mix between Saab instrument cluster, Opel steering wheel and buttons, and a few touches from the Cadillac club. But it couldn’t convince too many customers. The customers could have expanded the interior offered room for up to five adults and the trunk through the 60/40 split-folding rear bench seatback.

Under the hood, the BLS featured a range of gasoline and turbo-diesel engines ranged between 150 hp and 280 hp with front- or all-wheel-drive. It was the same engine range as its cousin, the Saab 93. Neither of them could increase GM’s sales in that free-falling car market during the world financial crisis.